Ball grip improving pad for application to bowler&#39;s hand



July 26, 1966 L. KOVACS 3,262,702

BALL GRIP IMPROVING PAD FOR APPLICATION TO BOWLERS HAND Filed June 4. 1963 INVENTOR. 1 a 0/5 to wrc 5 A 4 BY M United States Patent 3,262,702 BALL GRIP IMPROVING PAD FOR APPLICATION TO BOWLERS HAND Louis Kovacs, 839 St. Agnes Ave., Dayton, Ohio Filed June 4, 1963, Ser. No. 285,506 11 Claims. (Cl. 27354) This invention relates to a bowling accessory and more particularly to a novel pad for a bowlers hand which improves his grip and enhances the efiectiveness of his delivery.

Grip is all important in bowling. If a bowler is able to properly grip the ball and maintain that grip throughout his delivery procedure to the point of release, the ball will leave his hand to move in an essentially controlled path down the alley. However, bowlers find it extremely difficult to maintain a proper grip on the ball throughout their delivery. The ball does not seat to the palm of the hand and, in most instances, it tends to slip downwardly at the point of release. This is due to a number of factors such as the size and weight of a bowling ball and the physical limitations of a bowlers hand.

During his delivery, the bowlers hand should bring the ball down from a back swing to a position of release with the hand orienting as if it were extending to shake the hand of another. Thus, with a proper form, as the hand moves forward to a point of release, it orients in a generally vertical plane, the side of the palm remote from the thumb being lowermost. In one instance, if the ball has not been maintained in a firm and proper grip, on release thereof it will proceed down the alley with no certainty whatsoever as to the path of its travel. In another instance, where a bowler may arrive at a release position with his hand in a generally proper orientation, nevertheless the weight of the ball often causes it to slightly drop or slip downwardly on release instead of moving directly outward at a positively defined angle to the floor of the bowling alley. In either event the bowlers score is sure to suffer.

The present invention provides means which facilitate a positive and proper grip of a bowling ball during a delivery procedure, even to the point of release. In so doing, it obviates the above problems and renders the incidence thereof to be absolutely minimal. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a flexible resilient pad which may be applied by straps or other suitable means to the palm of a bowlers hand. This pad is so constructed to insure a firm backing for the bowling ball during a delivery procedure and incorporates means to inhibit slippage of the ball at the point of release. The net result is a positive control of the ball which enables a bowler to achieve the full benefit of his delivery procedure.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a novel grip device for application to a bowlers hand which is economical to fabricate, most eflicient and satisfactory in use and adaptable to a variety of applications.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel 7 pad for application to a bowlers hand which enables him to achieve a morepositive grip of a bowling ball.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel pad structure for application to a bowlers hand which facilitates a more accurately controlled delivery of a bowling ball.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel grip device for a bowlers hand which is formed to facilitate the control of a bowling ball during a delivery procedure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel pad for a bowlers hand which is so formed to adhere to the palm and to offer a firm seat for a bowling ball as it is gripped by the fingers of the hand.

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An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel pad for application to a bowlers hand which facilitates the proper grip of a bowling ball and inhibits the inherent tendency of the ball to prematurely drop from the hand at the point of its release.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bowling accessory possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and the means and mode of use herein described.

With the above and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein is shown one but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view of a hand grasping a bowling ball which utilizes a pad type grip device in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a generally perspective view of the pad of FIG. 1 illustrating the side thereof which abuts the palm of the hand;

FIG. 3 is a further perspective view of the device as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates the application of the pad of FIG. 2 to a bowling ball in a manner to reveal the portion of the pad which abuts the heel of the palm of the hand; and I FIG. 5 is a further view of the pad of FIG. 2 as a plied to the hand of a bowler.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

As shown in the drawings, the invention pad 1 is an integral resilient structure of molded form. Its one surface 2 is convexly contoured to fit in and generally conform to the palm of a hand. As applied to the hand, one side edge thereof terminates in a feathered peripheral portion 3 which lies adjacent and spaced from the thumb and forefinger. At its opposite edge, generally coextensive therewith, the pad surface 2 includes a relatively projected wall structure 4. The wall 4 is formed to depend about and cup the side portion of the hand which is remote from the thumb and forefinger. At its rearrnost edge, generally coextensive therewith, the pad surface 2 includes a similarly projected wall structure 5 which connects to and forms an angularly diverted extension of the wall 4. The wall section 5 is so contoured that on application ofthe pad surface 2 to the palm of the hand, it will overlie and cup about the heel of the hand.

The extremity of the pad surface 2 which is remote from the wall section 5 incorporates pyramid shaped projections 6, the forwardmost walls'7 of which are arcuately recessed in a transverse sense. The projections 6 are so arranged that on application of the pad 1 to have its surface 2 seat to the palm of a hand, the apex portions thereof nest in the rearmost joints of the small finger and the two fingers most adjacent thereto. This enables the inner sections of these fingers to hinge about their inner joints and respectively curve about the projections 6 so that pad portions thereof are accommodated by the walls 7.

The pad 1, as seated to the palm of the hand, has an outermost surface 8 which assumes a concave contour generally conforming to that of a section of a spherical surface. As seen in FIG. 5 of the drawings, the pad edge 3 blends into the palm of the hand adjacent the thumb and forefinger. From the edge 3 the surface 8 is so arranged to curve upwardly and outwardly from the palm Patented July 26, 1966- in the art.

in the direction of the heel and the side of the hand most remote from the thumb and forefinger. artificially projected palm surface of spherical contour.

While the surface 2 is generally uniformly convex in the portion thereof bounded by the edge 3, projections 6 and wall structures 4 and 5, it includes an additional projection 9 oriented on a line extending forwardly from the central portion of the wall section 5. The section 9 is arcuately contoured, in a transverse sense, to fit in the recess which is inherently formed at the heel of the palm when a hand is cupped to grasp a bowling ball.

As the application of the pad structure 1 to the hand, it may be incorporated in a glove-like structure or simply fixed to the hand through the medium of suitably connected straps in a manner believed obvious. The details thereof are neither described nor shown since they are well within the capability of any mechanic versed in the art.

Thus, as the pad 1 is applied to the hand, the surface 2 of this resilient structure seats to the palm so its surface 8 affords an outwardly displaced artificial palm surface blending into the surface of the hand. It is to be'noted at this point that the material of which the pad is formed is such to not only render it resilient but also flexible in character.

Accordingly, when a bowling ball is to be gripped by the hand to which the pad 1 is applied, it will find the pad so formed to provide a seat therefor which facilitates a proper grip. This seat affords a cushioned positive backing for the bowling ball as the bowler moves through his entire delivery procedure. It insures a more positive containment of the ball throughout the back swing as Well as the forward motion of the delivery procedure. As the This creates an hand is moved to a position of release, the spherically formed surface 8, as backed by the wall structures 4 and 5 which cup about the side portions of the hand remote from the thumb and forefinger, tends to cup about the lowermost portion of the ball and support it in a manner to inhibit inadvertent slippage or premature dropping of the ball as the ball is released. This enables the ball to move forwardly from the hand in a relatively controlled and optimum condition of delivery.

It is readily apparent that the pad structure 1 provides a medium which insures a positive and resilient backing for a bowling ball during a delivery procedure, one which facilitates a more effective propulsion of the ball as well as the maintenance of a proper grip and hand movement. It also provides means which influences the ball on release thereof to move outwardly from the hand in a relatively straight line and at a determinable and positive angle of inclination to the surface of a bowling alley. Thus, using the invention pad one may achieve a most effective and accurate delivery procedure which enables the bowler to more accurately predetermine and judge the course which the ball will travel down the bowling alley. The advantages thereof are believed readily apparent to those versed With better control and more positive delivery of a bowling ball, one may achieve a substantially higher score.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A bowling accessory for application to a bowlers hand comprising a pad structure one surface of which seats on and resiliently conforms to the shape of the palm of the hand, said pad structure including means defining a projected wall section on a peripheral edge portion thereof one portion of which cups about the hand at the side thereof remote from the thumb and another portion of which oppositely projects to form an abutment for a bowling ball grasped by the fingers of the hand.

2. A bowling accessory for application to a bowlers hand comprising a flexible pad structure arranged to seat on the palm of the hand and depend about the side portion thereof remote from the thumb and forefinger and means on the outermost surface of said pad formed to provide for a bowling ball, as grasped by the fingers of the hand, a peripheral abutment disposed along and outwardly of marginal portions of the hand on the side thereof remote from said thumb and forefinger.

3. A bowling accessory for application to a bowlers hand comprising a resilient pad structure for application to the palm of the hand, said pad tructure having a portion arranged to overlie the adjacent wrist and including a projection relative the heel of the hand serving as a resilient abutment for a bowling ball when grasped by the fingers of the hand during a delivery procedure and further including a projected lip on said pad structure positioned outwardly of a marginal portion of the hand opposite and remote from the thumb and forefinger, said lip serving to inhibit a premature drop of a bowling ball on release thereof during a delivery procedure.

' 4. A pad for application to the hand of a bowler, including a formed device adapted on its underside to fit the palm of the hand, one side edge of said device terminating in a projected wall structure which depends about and cups the side of the hand remote from the thumb and forefinger, the other side edge terminating in a substantially feathered edge between the thumb and forefinger, the top side of said device being concavely formed to receive the ball.

5. A pad according to claim 4, characterized in that the rearmost edge of said device terminates in a projected wall structure connected to and forming an angularly diverted extension of said one side edge of said device, said last mentioned wall structurebeing contoured to overlie and cup about the heel of the hand.

6.'A pad according to claim 4, characterized in that the front edge of said device incorporates pyramidal projections, the forwardmost walls of which are arcuately recessed in a transverse sense to receive fingers of the hand.

7. A pad according to claim 4, characterized in that said device is generally convex on its underside inwardly of its edges, there being, however, a projection oriented on a line extending forwardly from the rear edge of the device centrally thereof and fitting the recess inherently formed at the heel of the palm when gripping a bowling ball.

8. A pad according to claim 4, characterized in that said device is made of a soft material molded to a configuration as described.

9. A pad for application to the hand of a bowler, including a formed device adapted on its underside to fit the palm of the hand, the rear edge of said device and one side edge thereof being formed with projected wall structures which are respectively contoured to overlie and cup about the heel of the hand and the side of the hand remote from the thumb and forefinger, the other side edge of said device terminating between the thumb and forefinger, the underside of said device intermediate its edges being generally convex and the topside being generally concave.

10. A pad according to claim 9, characterized in that the underside of said device further is formed with a projection oriented on a line extending forwardly from said rear edge of the device centrally thereof and fitting the recess inherently formed at the heel of the palm when gripping a bowling ball.

11. A pad according to claim 9, characterized in that 5 the front edge of said device incorporates pyramidal projections, the forwardmost walls of which are arcuately recessed in a transverse sense to receive fingers of the hand.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,738,190 3/1956 Tureand 273-54 2,994,530 8/1961 Cohan 27354 X 3,031,680 5/1962 Compiano.

3,123,832 3/1964 Kubik.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Examiner. 

2. A BOWLING ACCESSORY FOR APPLICATION TO A BOWLER''S HAND COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE PAD STRUCTURE ARRANGED TO SEAT ON THE PALM OF THE HAND AND DEPEND ABOUT THE SIDE PORTION THEREOF REMOTE FORM THE THUMB AND FOREFINGER AND MEANS ON THE OUTERMOST SURFACE OF SAID PAD FORMED TO PRIVIDE FOR A BOWLING BALL, AS GRASPED BY THE FINGERS OF THE HAND, A PERIPHERAL ABUTMENT DISPOSED ALONG AND OUTWARDLY OF MARGINAL PORTIONS OF THE HAND ON THE SIDE THEREOF REMOTE FROM SAID THUMB AND FOREFINGER. 